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18/12/2025
The government of French Polynesia confirmed during this Wednesday’s Council of Ministers meeting the classification of 574 hectares of the Bora Bora lagoon as a Category 1 protected natural area. In this zone, all activities will be prohibited, an unprecedented measure in a Polynesian lagoon.
"This first category is the most restrictive provided for by the Polynesian Environmental Code and pursues general objectives of species preservation and scientific research. It is the first fully protected reserve in a lagoon environment in French Polynesia where all activities are prohibited," the Council of Ministers' statement specifies.
The reserve will be located on the southern reef of Matira. It will extend over approximately 7.2 km in length and 750 meters in width, divided between a lagoon strip of 500 meters from the barrier reef and a 250-meter zone outside the reef, on the ocean side.
"Led by the municipality of Bora Bora in close collaboration with CRIOBE, this designation is the culmination of a research and conservation project launched in 2019 under the name Bora-Biodiv. The studies notably revealed a decrease in fish size as well as a decline in the stock of giant clams - pahua - and sea urchins - vana - between 2006 and 2019. They also highlighted significant pressure exerted by tourism activities on the Bora Bora lagoon, particularly due to noise pollution generated by vessels," the government emphasized.
A consultation conducted with the island’s population had also revealed residents’ willingness to establish a rahui. A management committee called "Tomite Poporahui", bringing together all stakeholders, was therefore created to ensure the management and monitoring of this protected area.
Certain "occasional special authorizations" may nevertheless be granted, provided they do not contradict the management objectives defined by the classification decree.
"Thus, outrigger canoes participating in the Hawaiki Nui Va'a race may benefit from this exemption, unlike the escort boats," the government specified. The next steps will notably include marking the reserve boundaries and developing a multi-year management plan.